Large-volume container comprising two parts and a support device located in the connection region

ABSTRACT

What is described is a plastic container consisting of two container parts ( 12, 14 ) which are connected to one another in an opening region. Each container part ( 12, 14 ) has a single connection frame ( 26, 28 ) which includes the connection opening. The container parts ( 12, 14 ) can be connected to one another along the facing connection frames ( 26, 28 ). At least one connection frame ( 26, 28 ) includes a support device ( 30, 34; 54 ) which extends in the connection frame ( 26, 28 ) in the vertical direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a plastic container consisting of two containerparts which are connected to one another in an opening region.

2. Description of the Related Art

A container of this type is known from DE 201 05 030 U1 of the sameapplicant. The container described serves to store liquids and consistsof at least two separately manufactured and largely identical containerparts. Each container part includes an upper and a lower flow nozzlehaving an aperture. The two container parts are connected to one anotherin the region of the upper flow nozzle as well as in the region of thelower flow nozzle. Further, the container parts include stiffeningcorrugations for increasing stability.

Such a container can be used for collecting rainwater or waste water andshould be suitable for underground storage. Known containers have aspherical, cylindrical or rectangular geometry. For rectangularcontainers, generally a width which is small compared with the length ischosen in order to withstand soil loads.

In order to obtain a large volume, the height of the container must thenbe chosen high, this requiring a high mounting depth. For reasons ofsoil quality, such as in the case of stony soils or given the presenceof ground water, it is often necessary to keep the mounting depth as lowas possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a plastic container which hasa high capacity and, at the same time, is suitable for underground useand has a high stability.

According to the invention, the already described principle ismaintained according to which the container is assembled of twocontainer parts. In this way, the container parts can be manufacturedwith the aid of relatively small blowing molds and can be transportedwell. Each container part has a single connection frame which includesthe connection opening. At least one connection frame includes a supportdevice which extends in the vertical direction. As a result, the entirecontainer is supported in the region of the interconnected connectionframes and the strength is increased in this region. Thus, the containerwhich is assembled of the two container parts has a high dimensionalstability, can take high soil loads and can withstand buoyancy forces inthe ground water.

In one embodiment, the respective connection frame has a circular shape,the outer diameter of which approximately corresponds to the height ofthe container. As a result, a large opening surface for the exchange ofliquid can be provided between the two container parts. Further, with alarge diameter of the connection frame the required connection of thetwo container parts at the place of mounting, for example by means ofwelding, can be implemented more easily.

According to another embodiment, the base area of the container isapproximately square. Accordingly, such a container can be easilyembedded in the soil of an existing square piece of land. The increasedsoil loads and buoyancy forces occurring in this connection are absorbedby the supporting device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are explained in the following on the basisof the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a container part having a not yet separated partition wallformed in one piece with the container part.

FIG. 4 is a detail from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 3 as viewed from the direction H1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the container in the assembled state.

FIG. 7 is a detail from FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 are views of a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows the two container parts prior to their assembly.

FIG. 10 shows the two container parts assembled together.

FIG. 11 shows a detail according to FIG. 10 in which ribs are weldedtogether.

FIG. 12 shows a detail according to FIG. 10 in which the connectionframes are welded along their circumference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, an embodiment of the invention inwhich a container 10 is assembled of two container parts 12, 14. The twocontainer parts 12, 14 are made of plastic, for example ofhigh-molecular high density polyethylene, and are manufactured by meansof blow molding. The first container part 12 has a filling and emptyingopening 16. With regard to the rest, the two container parts 12, 14 areidentically structured so that each container part 12, 14 can bemanufactured by using the same blowing mold. Only for the firstcontainer part 12 having a filling neck 18 (see FIG. 2), a mold insertis placed into the blowing mold.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container 10, the unit for the filling andemptying opening 16 being disassembled; thus in the upper wall 24 only afilling neck 18 can be seen via which the entire container 10 can befilled and emptied.

Each container part 12, 14 includes in its circumferential surfacestiffening corrugations 20 which serve to stiffen the outer shape of thecontainer 10. These stiffening corrugations 20 are channel-like recesseswhich are formed in the circumferential surface during the plasticblowing. The stiffening corrugations 20 increase the rigidity of theouter casing so that the soil load and the buoyancy forces occurring dueto the ground water are taken into account. The container parts 12, 14are rounded at their edges and also present the stiffening corrugations20 mentioned above in their circumferential surface in the lower wall 22and the upper wall 24.

Each container part 12, 14 has a single connection frame 26 or,respectively, 28, along which the two container parts 12, 14 are joinedtogether.

For a useable volume of 5000 liters liquid, the container 10 typicallyhas a square base size of approximately 2.3 m given a height of 1.35 m.The neck 18 has a typical diameter of 0.7 m.

FIG. 3 shows the container part 14 which is manufactured by means ofplastic blow molding. With this type of manufacture, a partition wall 30serving as a support device is formed integrally therewith, thestructure of which can be seen in more detail in FIG. 4 as detail Z on ascale of 1:4 and in FIG. 5 in a view as seen from the direction H1.

FIG. 4 shows that a raised edge 34 is formed along the circumference ofthe outer casing of the container part 14. At the point 32, thepartition wall 30 is then separated along the circumference.

FIG. 5 is a view from the direction H1 in FIG. 3. The partition wall 30includes stiffening ribs 36 in the middle section and through holes 38on both sides of the stiffening ribs 36. In the region of the stiffeningribs 36 an upper bore 40 and a lower bore 42 are provided in order toallow for an exchange of liquid in the region of the stiffening ribs 36.

FIG. 6 shows the container 10 in the assembled state from the side. Thecontainer part 14 is assembled to the container part 12 which can onlybe seen partly, the partition wall 30 belonging to the container part 14and a partition wall 44 belonging to the container part 12 facing eachother. The detail Y is illustrated in more detail as a cross-section ina ratio of 1:4 in FIG. 7. The partition wall 30 illustrated in FIGS. 3,4, and 5 has been separated along the circumference at the point 32 andhas been inserted into the thus created opening of the container part 14after being turned by 180°. Something similar is carried out for thecontainer part 12 with the partition wall 44. Thus, the two containerparts 12, 14 with their partition walls 30, 44 are facing one another.In the region of the raised edge 34 of the container part 14 and arespective raised edge 46 of the container part 12 a circumferentialwelding with the melting stock 48 is carried out, while at the same timethe outer casing of the container parts 12, 14 as well as theappertaining partition walls 44, 30 are joined to one another. Thepartition walls 30, 44 include the ribs 36 illustrated in FIG. 5 andform the support device for the absorption of vertical forces. Theconnection frames 28, 26 of the container parts 14, 12, which areillustrated in FIG. 2, are formed in this embodiment by the end faces ofthe open container parts 14, 12 and the end faces of the partition walls30 and 44.

FIGS. 8 to 12 show another embodiment of the invention in which thefacing connection frames 26, 28 of the container parts 12, 14 likewiseinclude a support device. Identical parts are denoted by identicalreference characters.

On the left-hand side of FIG. 8, a front view of the connection frame 28is shown, which has two sections 50, 52 as a connection opening. Theillustration on the left-hand side is a view as seen from the directionH2 of the side view illustrated on the right-hand side. In verticaldirection, the connection frame 28 includes a support device 54 havingprotruding ribs 56, 58.

FIG. 9 is an illustration showing the two container parts 12, 14 withtheir associated connection frames 26, 28, the container parts beingidentical to one another except for the upper walls. The ribs 56, 58 ofthe container part 14 and the identical ribs 60, 62 of the containerpart 12 are arranged offset to one another and are moved towards oneanother according to the arrows P1, P2 during assembly.

FIG. 10 shows the assembly of the container parts 14, 12. The detail Win FIG. 11 as well as the detail X in FIG. 12 show details of theconnection of the connection frames 26, 28. In FIG. 11, it isillustrated that the facing ribs 56, 60 are welded to one another at thepoint 62 in vertical direction. Another possibility is to screw or torivet the two ribs 56, 60 to on another. As can be seen in FIG. 11, theribs 56, 60 project into the respective other container part so thatfurther advantages with regard to the support function result.

FIG. 12 shows the detail X indicated in FIG. 10. A welding to the welddeposit 64 is carried out along the two connection frames of thecontainer parts 12, 14, a circumferential edge-shaped centering element66 formed on the container part 12 resting against a protruding abuttingsurface 68 formed on the container part 14.

Various modifications can be provided. For example, it can be sufficientto equip only one connection frame with a support device. Further, it ispossible that the container parts have different base areas.

Preferably, the container width of a container part is chosen such thatit is smaller than the double diameter of the respective connectionframe.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   10 container-   12, 14 container parts-   16 filling and emptying opening-   18 filling neck-   20 stiffening corrugations-   22 lower wall-   24 upper wall-   26, 28 connection frames-   30 partition wall-   32 point of separation-   34 raised edge-   36 stiffening ribs-   38 through holes-   40 upper bore-   42 lower bore-   44 partition wall-   46 raised edge-   48 melting stock-   50 opening sections-   54 support device-   56, 58 ribs-   60, 62 ribs-   P1, P2 direction arrows-   64 weld deposit-   66 centering element-   68 abutting surface

1. Container made of plastic, the container (10) consisting of two container parts (12, 14) which are connected to one another in the opening region, wherein each container part (12, 14) comprises a horizontally extending upper floor (24) and a lower floor and has a single connection frame (26, 28) including the connection opening, the container parts (12, 14) can be connected to one another along the facing connection frames (26, 28), wherein the container parts (12, 14) are configured for use in the ground, and in that at least one connection frame (26, 28) includes a support device (30, 34; 54) which extends in the connection frame (26, 28) in the vertical direction and is capable of withstanding vertical forces from the ground, wherein the connection frame (26, 28) has a circular shape, the outer diameter of which approximately corresponds to the height of the container (10).
 2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the two container parts (12, 14) have a substantially identical structure except for the filling neck (18).
 3. Container according to claim 1, wherein the support device (54) includes vertically extending stiffening ribs (56, 58).
 4. Container according to claim 3, wherein the stiffening ribs (56, 58) protrude from the plane of the connection frame (26, 28).
 5. Container according to claim 3, wherein the stiffening ribs (56, 58) have centering faces (66) on their respective lower and upper ends, said centering faces cooperating with opposite abutting surfaces (68).
 6. Container according to claim 1, wherein facing stiffening ribs (56, 58) of the two container parts (12, 14) are connected to one another in the middle area.
 7. Container according to claim 1, wherein the support device (54) includes a wall (30, 44).
 8. Container according to claim 3, wherein the wall (30, 44) comprises vertically extending ribs (36).
 9. Container according to claim 1, wherein the width of each container part (12, 14) is smaller than the double diameter of the respective connection frame (26, 28).
 10. Container according to claim 1, wherein it consists of high-molecular high-density polyethylene.
 11. Container according to claim 1, wherein for manufacturing the container parts, and if necessary, a mold insert for creating a change in shape is inserted.
 12. Container according to claim 1, wherein it has a capacity of 4000 to 6000 liters.
 13. Container according to claim 1, wherein it approximately has a square base area.
 14. Container made of plastic, the container (10) consisting of two container parts (12, 14) which are connected to one another in the opening region, wherein each container part (12, 14) comprises a horizontally extending upper floor (24) and a lower floor and has a single connection frame (26, 28) including the connection opening, the container parts (12, 14) can be connected to one another along the facing connection frames (26, 28), wherein the container parts (12, 14) are configured for use in the ground, and in that at least one connection frame (26, 28) includes a support device (30, 34; 54) which extends in the connection frame (26, 28) in the vertical direction and is capable of withstanding vertical forces from the ground wherein the support device (54) includes a wall (30, 44), wherein the wall (30, 44) has a cylindrical edge, which is inserted into the connection frame (26, 28), and in that the connection frames (26, 28) of the two container parts (12, 14) are welded together, the welding seam (48) also welding the edge of the wall (30, 44) to the connection frames (26, 28). 